Spiraea plant named ‘SMSJMLA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Spiraea cultivar named ‘SMSJMLA’ is disclosed, characterized by a uniquely dwarf, dense plant habit, dark foliage and dark pink flowers. Plants have a strong flowering habit. The new variety is a Spiraea, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Spiraea japonica.

Variety denomination: ‘SMSJMLA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Spiraea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Mich. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Spiraea varietiesof compact and full habit with new and better flower and leaf colors.The breeding program resulting in this new variety began during June of2007.

The parent varieties are unnamed, unpatented proprietary varieties ofSpiraea japonica. Seed was bulk collected from crossing blocks of theparent varieties, and subsequently mutated. A block of 100 mature,flowering unnamed mutated seedlings, selected from crossings of theparent varieties were pretreated with 10 grays of radiation was grownout(designated M1 generation). Seed was collected from ten plants of themutated seedlings with the best foliage and dark pink flowers. This seedgrown out (M2 generation) and selected for superior foliage, flowercoverage and flower color. The new variety was identified as apotentially interesting selection in 2009, at a greenhouse in GrandHaven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMSJMLA’ by softwood cuttingswas first performed during the Summer of 2009, at commercial greenhousein Grand Haven, Mich. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMSJMLA’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMSJMLA’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMSJMLA’ as a new and distinct Spiraeacultivar:

-   1. Plants have a dwarf habit.-   2. Plants have a uniquely tight growth habit.-   3. Distinctive dark green foliage.-   4. Dark pink flowers.-   5. Wide, flat corymbs.

PARENT COMPARISON

As seed was bulk collected, exact parentage is unknown. It is observedhowever, the new variety exhibits the following differences from knownSpiraea japonica varieties used in the breeding program:

-   1. Plants of the new variety are shorter and more compact.-   2. Plants of the new variety have darker foliage.-   3. Plants of the new variety produce corymbs which are more wider    and flatter than observed in parent varieties.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMSJMLA’ can be compared to the patentedcommercial variety Spiraea japonica ‘Galen’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,712.These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however ‘SMSJMLA’ differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety is shorter than this comparator.-   2. The new variety has a very tight plant habit, this comparator is    more open in habit.-   3. Flowers of the new variety are smaller than flower of this    comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘SMSJMLA’ grown outdoors, in Grand Haven, Mich. in a 3gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of mature foliage and inflorescence.

FIG. 3 illustrates in full color typical new foliage of ‘SMSJMLA’. Ageof the plant photographed is approximately 3 years.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SMSJMLA’ plants grown in a commercial polygreenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. under natural lighting. Measurementswere taken during June of 2016. The plants were 2 years old in 2 galloncontainers. The growing temperature ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. duringthe night and 18° C. to 27° C. during the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Spiraea japonica ‘SMSJMLA’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 15 days at approximately 22°            C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy, moderate to dense            density medium thickness and freely branching. Cream to            brown in color, not effectively measured with a color chart.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 2 months at 22°            C.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant type.—Perennial shrub.        -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years old.        -   Growth habit.—Dwarf shrub.        -   Pot size of plant described.—2 gallon pot.        -   Overall plant shape.—Rounded mound.        -   Height.—Approximately 36 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 49 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Excellent.        -   Branching characteristics.—Basal branching, pinching            required.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 19 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 1.5 cm for            mature growth.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—About 26.        -   Stem.—Stem Strength: Strong. Stem Color: Near Greyed-Green            195A, bark on oldest growth near Greyed-Orange 166A.            Texture: Slightly scaly. Aspect: Near straight stems held at            an angle between 0-100°.        -   Internode length.—Average 1 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: alternate, single. Leaf shape: Ovate.            Average Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Average Width:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded. Margin:            Serrate to double serrate. Texture of top surface: Smooth,            silky. Texture of bottom surface: Smooth, rugose. Color:            Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-purple 187A and            Greyed-purple N187A, colors present individually. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-green 197A and            Greyed-purple 187A, colors present individually. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 191A. Venation: Pattern:            Pinnate-netted. Color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            146D. Color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146D. Fall            foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187B, 187C and            N187A. Colors mottled together. Fall foliage under side:            Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187B, 187C and N187A. Colors mottled            together. Petiole: Average Length: Approximately 2.6 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Petiole color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-green 146D. Petiole color lower side: Near RHS            Yellow-green 146D. Petiole Texture upper side: Smooth.            Petiole Texture lower side: Smooth.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Late Spring to early Summer.        -   Inflorescence type and habit.—Single rotate flowers located            on flattened terminal corymbs.        -   Flower arrangement.—Single rotate flowers.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Average 190.        -   Inflorescence size.—Width: Approximately 6.0 cm. Height:            Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—190.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—About 4,000.        -   Individual flowers.—Flower form: Rotate star shape. Flower            aspect: Upright and outward. Flowering habit: Terminal.            Size: Diameter: Approximately 6 mm. Length: Approximately            6 mm. Depth: Approximately 3 mm.        -   Flower other characteristics.—Persistence: Self cleaning.            Fragrance: None.        -   Petal.—Petal arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, not            fused. Petal appearance: Silky. Number of petals per            flower: 5. Petal Shape: Widely obovate. Petal Base: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Tip shape: Obtuse. Length: 2.2 mm. Width:            2 mm. Texture: Upper: Smooth. Lower: Smooth.        -   Petal color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 64B. Lower surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 64B.            Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 64B. Lower            surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 67B. Fading: Upper surface:            Near RHS Purple-Violet N80B. Lower surface: Near RHS            Purple-Violet N80C.        -   Bud.—Shape: Orbicular. Length: Approximately 1.9 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.75 mm. Color: Near RHS            Greyed-purple N187A and Red-purple 64B, colors individually            present.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Wide deltate. Arrangement: Single whorl of 5            sepals, fused into hypanthium. Number of Sepals: 5. Length:            Approximately 1 mm. Width: Approximately 0.5 mm. Margin:            Entire. Base: Truncate/fused. Tip: Cuspidate. Texture:            Smooth all surfaces. Color: Upper side: Near RHS            Greyed-Purple 186A. Lower side: Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Star shaped. Length: 4 mm. Diameter: 4 mm.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 3.6 cm. Diameter: 0.5 mm. Color: Near RHS            Greyed-Green 195A. Orientation: 0-70°. Strength: Good.            Texture: Smooth.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 1 mm. Diameter: about 0.5 mm. Color: Near            RHS Greyed-Green 195A. Orientation: 30-60°. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: Approximately 15. Filament length: 3.5 mm.            Filament color: Near RHS Red-Purple N57B.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: less than 0.5 mm. Color:            Near RHS Violet-Blue N92C. Pollen quantity: Moderate. Pollen            Color: Near RHS Greyed-White 156A.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1. Length: About 2 mm. Style: Length:            Approximately 1 mm. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 60B. Stigma:            Shape: Irregular retuse. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 67A.            Ovary color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Moderate amount of minute, dust-like seeds            enclosed in circular seed heads. Seed heads approximately 2            mm in diameter, colored near Brown 200B.        -   Garden performance.—Good performance in a garden setting,            including tolerance for rain and wind.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Spiraea have            been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates            temperatures between −31° C. to 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea plantnamed ‘SMSJMLA’ as herein illustrated and described.